Still worth it with mark up?

[no proof]

Living in Japan, I often have to accept some mark up on bourbons that aren't widely distributed here. I don't have much chance to hit a pricey whiskey bar for tasting before buying either, so I'm hoping that all the experienced drinkers here can opine on which of these are still worth their marked up prices.

 

Obviously this will vary based on personal preference, but I'm curious to see if people feel they'd still pay these prices for something they like if it was the only option.

 

Those marked with * are 700ml, otherwise they are 750 unless explicitly stated otherwise.

 

Listed in order of decreasing price that I can currently get them at:

Spoiler

Blade & Bow* : $139
Stagg Jr (not sure which release) : $108
EH Taylor Jr Rye : $105
EH Taylor Jr SmB: $95
Angel's Envy* : $88
Jefferson's Very Old : $80
Old Ezra 15 : $80
Bulleit 10y* : $76
Michter's (SmB, SiB Rye, or Sour Mash)* : $74
Russel's Reserve SiB : $73
Old Scout Smooth Ambler 10y* : $72
Russel's Reserve Rye 6y* : $65
Noah's Mill : $64
Old Scout Smooth Ambler 7y* : $62
Willett Pot Still* : $60
Jefferson's SmB* : $57
Russel's Reserve 10y : $55
Rebel Yell SmB : $48
Rowan's Creek : $47
McKenna BiB : $46
Basil Hayden : $40
Baker's : $35
Old Ezra 12 : $35
Evan Williams BiB : $30

 

For reference, these are others I can get here at what I consider to be generally reasonable prices:

Spoiler

FRYL* : $11
I.W. Harper Gold Medal* : $18
Evan Williams 12y (red label): $24
Old Grand-Dad BiB : $24 - $27
WT 8y (101pf, 1L) : $24
Elijah Craig 12 (still age stated, most on back): $25 - $30
Maker's Mark : $25
Fighting Cock 6y : $26
Buffalo Trace : $27
Bulleit* : $27
Old Grand-Dad 114 : $27

Eagle Rare SiB* (some still have 'single barrel' on the neck) : $33 - $48
Four Roses Black Label* : $34
Four Roses SmB* : $35
Knob Creek 9 (1L) : $38
Blanton's* : $40
Booker's : $45 - $50
Four Roses SiB* : $40
Knob Creek SiB : $43
I.W. Harper 12yr* : $47
Four Roses Platinum : $67
Blanton's Gold* : $72
Blanton's SftB* : $78

 

Hope this wasn't too much in a single post.
Thanks!

[Charlutz]

I'll go with a quick answer -- your "reasonable" list is pretty good and has a few wish list items for those of us in the states. I think you already know that though. Most of the bottles on your "mark up" list are tough to justify when compared to some of the bargains on your other list. Maybe Baker's or HMcK just so you have them, but neither of those are great values with EC12, Booker's and KCSiB available at the prices you have listed. Stagg Jr. is not a value at that price, but it is definitely different than anything available to you. I've not had Blanton's SFTB and maybe that's a comparison, but the Stagg Jr. might be unique on your bar. Again, tough to justify any on the top list as a value, so if you're going to buy, I'd look for something unique. Maybe the AE? I missed that the first time as I personally don't care for it, though many do.

[lcpfratn]

The Basil Hayden price is as good as I can find it in TN, so that's another option besides the other items that were mentioned by Charlutz.

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[Paddy]

My two cents:  I'd be all over the Baker's at that price!  It isn't that cheap in Ky (usually $39 and change), and provides a unique drinking experience.  Although a Beam product, IMO, a totally different animal than the rest of the house. 

 

I'm also a fan of both KC and/or KCSB, which appear to be reasonably priced.  Both are very good pours in their own right, but Baker's is a stand alone profile in the Beam portfolio.  You're getting a refined and complex, big boy bourbon, at 107 proof... with an age statement. 

[Golferpimp1]

From your markup list I would recommend giving the saos 7 a shot, as well as the henry mckenna. Your reasonable list has some great options though, as others have noted.

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[no proof]

Thanks a lot for everyone's responses. I forgot to mention that the prices I gave were after tax, but I don't think that makes much difference.

 

Unfortunately (for my wallet) I am in that stage where I want to try all kinds of things to see what I like most.

 

That's just a stage, right?

 

So I (and my wallet) definitely appreciate people's comments to the effect that most of these are not really worth the money barring a few potential unique ones and a few that are actually not marked up. I hope this will help to tame my 'gotta try them all' feelings a bit.

 

I've tried about half of the 'reasonable' ones so far, plus a few I didn't list (OWA, Woodford Reserve). Definitely the Blanton's SftB is up at the top of the list and I am thankful to be in a position where I can pick that up at any time. A bit of compensation for having no store picks or other specialty releases.

 

Cheers!

 

[jsrudd]

I also live in Japan, and don't buy most of those listed on your mark-up list because the price is not worth it. On the whole, however, I think the bottles we are able to get at a bargain out weigh those that are marked up.  

 

Some of the prices you quote are a bit higher than what I'm used to, so you may be able to get better deals by shopping around. 

Edited November 2, 2016 by jsrudd

[JoeTerp]

A bunch of the reasonable list items are cheaper than I'm able to get in the US

[Flyfish]

2 hours ago, JoeTerp said:

A bunch of the reasonable list items are cheaper than I'm able to get in the US

+1. 

Perhaps you (i.e., the OP) should look for export-only bourbons that are not available in the US at any price. The WT8YO jumps out as well as the Blanton's and 4R Plat that appear on the Reasonable list. 

[meadeweber]

Your prices and selection are much better than I imagined.  You have a fun bourbon journey ahead of you.  Enjoy!

[amg]

Old Ezra 15 isn't one you're going to find in the States. Not sure if I'd pay that price for it, though.

[berto]

I'd stick to the reasonable list and be a very happy drinker.

[no proof]

It's nice to hear from everyone that I'm not in some land of limited choice after all. I'm honestly not familiar with the situation in the US at this point having been outside for more than 15 years, but the stuff I'm reading on this board about regional availability, allocation, etc. makes it sound like getting the stuff you want can be a real hassle anywhere.

 

On 11/2/2016 at 5:09 PM, jsrudd said:

I also live in Japan, and don't buy most of those listed on your mark-up list because the price is not worth it. On the whole, however, I think the bottles we are able to get at a bargain out weigh those that are marked up.  

 

Some of the prices you quote are a bit higher than what I'm used to, so you may be able to get better deals by shopping around. 

 

jsrudd, I don't suppose you're the author of the Tokyo Bourbon Bible blog, are you? A great resource of info on what we have available over here, and a couple bars I'm looking forward to visiting.

 

I'd love to get some tips on hunting around Tokyo sometime, though I know everyone has their hard-won secrets. 

 

[Guardian Enzo]

Have you tried Liquors Hasegawa beneath Tokyo Eki? When I lived in Tokyo I found some bourbons with great prices there (like Elmer T. Lee for 25 bucks).

Edited November 5, 2016 by Guardian Enzo

[no proof]

8 hours ago, Guardian Enzo said:

Have you tried Liquors Hasegawa beneath Tokyo Eki? When I lived in Tokyo I found some bourbons with great prices there (like Elmer T. Lee for 25 bucks).

 

Yep, I've been there a couple times now, but while many things are reasonable I haven't noticed any great deals so far -- I'd certainly grab an ETL for $25 but I haven't seen one in Tokyo since I've started getting into bourbon (only a couple months, granted).

 

The best deal at Liquors Hasegawa by far is simply the ability to taste many of the offerings at $1 to $2 for 10ml. Just don't go after having burned your tongue at lunch on hot ramen. I decided to do a taste of SOAS 7 vs 10 the other day, but I realized too late that my tongue was not in any shape to make any reasonable judgements. I'll have to try it again another time, but thankfully I'm only out $3.

 

[Guardian Enzo]

29 minutes ago, no proof said:

 

Yep, I've been there a couple times now, but while many things are reasonable I haven't noticed any great deals so far -- I'd certainly grab an ETL for $25 but I haven't seen one in Tokyo since I've started getting into bourbon (only a couple months, granted).

 

The best deal at Liquors Hasegawa by far is simply the ability to taste many of the offerings at $1 to $2 for 10ml. Just don't go after having burned your tongue at lunch on hot ramen. I decided to do a taste of SOAS 7 vs 10 the other day, but I realized too late that my tongue was not in any shape to make any reasonable judgements. I'll have to try it again another time, but thankfully I'm only out $3.

 

 

Yeah, that sampling option is fantastic.

 

There's also a little place below street level near Mejiro Eki that has a fantastic selection and very good prices.  Can't remember the name, though.

[jsrudd]

On 11/6/2016 at 1:24 AM, Guardian Enzo said:

 

Yeah, that sampling option is fantastic.

 

There's also a little place below street level near Mejiro Eki that has a fantastic selection and very good prices.  Can't remember the name, though.

It's called Tanakaya.

 

Both Liquors Hasegawa and Tanakaya have gotten a lot less interesting over the past couple of years. Both also have relatively high prices. 

[jsrudd]

On 11/4/2016 at 2:51 PM, no proof said:

It's nice to hear from everyone that I'm not in some land of limited choice after all. I'm honestly not familiar with the situation in the US at this point having been outside for more than 15 years, but the stuff I'm reading on this board about regional availability, allocation, etc. makes it sound like getting the stuff you want can be a real hassle anywhere.

 

 

jsrudd, I don't suppose you're the author of the Tokyo Bourbon Bible blog, are you? A great resource of info on what we have available over here, and a couple bars I'm looking forward to visiting.

 

I'd love to get some tips on hunting around Tokyo sometime, though I know everyone has their hard-won secrets. 

 

I am the author of the Tokyo Bourbon Bible Blog.  

 

I don't have any tips for hunting besides go in every liquor store you see. Persistence is the key. My best find happened along the canal in Nakameguro during cherry blossom season. I was walking along the canal (just like everyone else in Tokyo) when I noticed a wine store I had never been to and decided to check it out.  

 

Tokyo was a good place for dusty hunting around a few years ago. Now, there isn't much left. I used to post relatively often in the dusty hunting thread in the collectibles forum, but since I haven't found anything recently, I haven't posted.

 

If there is any particular bottle you are looking for, send me a private message and I'll see if I can help you out. 

Edited November 10, 2016 by jsrudd